Addressing Medical Weight Loss

America is obese. There is simply no nicer way for us to put it, and while some are ignoring it, others are looking for a reason behind it. If you are experiencing weight gain, or have been trying to address it for several years, then you might be at a bit of a loss, and we can hardly blame you; society seems to have many different answers, most of which do not work. Let’s go over some of the most common reasons that your weight loss attempts might result in abject failure.

Adherence to Fad Diets– You know all about the fad diets; you’ve seen them on television, you’ve read about them in magazines, and you’ve seen the side bar ads on every single health related website you’ve been to. The problem with fad diets is that they work for a small percentage of the population, and that margin of success is enough to catapult them to fame, especially if they spend enough money in the advertising department. It is important to remember that every single person is different and as such will require a different diet/exercise regimen.

Failure to Track Progress– When you look in the mirror, you probably won’t see your weight loss, even if it is significant. We cannot stress enough the importance of making sure that you track your weight loss program using a chart or a journal. Record your progress from week to week and make sure that you know both what you have lost, and what you have regained. By tracking your progress you will know that you are doing the right thing, and most importantly, what you need to change.

Lack of Follow Through – This is probably the most obvious of the mistakes that you could make when following even a medical weight loss As you progress, you might lose faith in the program, or you might simply give into temptation. Either one of these can result in serious problems and once you have rebounded, you will have trouble getting back on the metaphorical horse. That being said, no would be a great time to make sure you find someone who is willing to hold you accountable and help you to stick to your original plan. It’s a small gesture that can go a long way if you let it.

These are the three most common reasons that weight loss attempts tend to fail but you can be rest assured that there are many other reasons. One of the most common myths however, that may not have much merit, at least in most cases, is the metabolism argument.

Weight Gain and Metabolism

This is one that you’ve heard before, we guarantee it. There is a belief that a slowing metabolism can cause an individual to gain more weight, and now the big question, is whether or not this is true. Okay, first of all, it CAN be true, we’re not going to discount it, but a slowed metabolism is actually quite rare, and it is not often the cause of obesity.

What is Metabolism?

Metabolism is the process that occurs within your body, converting your intake (food and drink) into energy. A slowed metabolism would be a catch 22 situation simply because your body needs food to operate, but by giving it what it needs, you are sabotaging yourself by increasing your weight. Fortunately there are ways to determine your body’s metabolic rate:

Body Size/Composition: Your metabolism is often determined by your weight (rather than the other way around). For example, if you have more muscle mass and more weight, you will burn more calories. That said, if you have overweight or obese, you will probably have a faster metabolic rate.

Sex: Men tend to burn more calories because they have less body fat and more muscle mass than women.

Age: This is not true for everyone, but in most cases as a person grows older, their muscle mass decreases, ultimately slowing down their burn rate.

Getting to the Truth

So if a slowed metabolism is not the likely culprit, then what is? Typically, there are a few very obvious culprits that can lead to gain and will call for a physician weight loss program in order to treat.

Genetics – In many cases, a person is simply pre-disposed to weight gain, often as a side effect of their own family line. This is not something that can be easily overcome, but it is also not the end of the line. Weight loss is certainly possible, regardless of your genetic blueprint.

Physical Activity – You may not realize it, but a sedentary lifestyle can contribute significantly to weight gain. The less time you spend exercising, the more you gain, and this can be solved by becoming a bit more active.

Medical Conditions – Medical conditions like hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease can be treated by a weight loss doctor and this will be a very important step toward your weight loss at a VIP medical weight loss

Habits – Unhealthy habits are a huge factor in weight gain. Lack of sleep, poor diet, etc, are just the tip of the iceberg. Finding a way to curb these habits is an essential step in starting to lose weight.

As you can see, getting to the bottom of it isn’t necessarily easy, but once you see a doctor, weight loss can become far easier than it was. Note that we are not dismissing the concept of a slow metabolism; it CAN happen, but it should not be the go-to for all weight gain issues. Getting into a good weight loss program can help you out considerably, so get on it, and make sure you’re able to become the person you want to be.